User interface control device and method for controlling a user interface

Abstract

The invention relates to a user interface control device, comprising display; an input key that can be pressed by a user, and a processor configured to register a starting time and a duration of a key press on the input key, wherein the processor is configured to assign a first function to the input key if the duration of the key press is shorter or equal to a threshold time value, and wherein the processor is configured assign a second function to the input key if the duration of the key press exceeds the threshold time value, wherein the display is configured to display a graphical element, which indicates a duration of the key press at least until the threshold time value is reached.

Claims

1. An electronic instrument, comprising: channels for receiving and/or forwarding signals; and a user interface control device, said user interface control device comprising: a display; an input key that can be pressed by a user, and a processor configured to register a starting time and a duration of a key press on the input key, wherein the processor is configured to assign a first function to the input key if the duration of the key press is shorter or equal to a threshold time value, and wherein the processor is configured assign a second function to the input key if the duration of the key press exceeds the threshold time value, wherein the display is configured to display a graphical element, which indicates a duration of the key press at least until the threshold time value is reached, wherein the first function of the input key comprises activating a channel preset mode of the electronic instrument, and wherein the second function of the input key comprises activating a device preset mode of the electronic instrument, and wherein, in the channel preset mode, a currently selected channel of the electronic instrument is preset to a default configuration.

2. The electronic instrument of claim 1, wherein the graphical element comprises a progress bar, a countdown, and/or a timer display.

3. The electronic instrument of claim 1, wherein the display is configured to display, at any time during a key press, a graphical or textual representation of the respective first or second function that is assigned to the input key if the input key is released at that time.

4. The electronic instrument of claim 1, wherein upon releasing the input key, the display is configured to indicate the respective function that is assigned to the input key by the processor.

5. The electronic instrument of claim 1, wherein the user interface control device is configured to receive a configuration input, in particular via a dedicated interface of the user interface control device.

6. The electronic instrument of claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to adjust the threshold time value based on the configuration input.

7. The electronic instrument of claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to define the first and/or second function of the input key based on the configuration input.

8. The electronic instrument of claim 1, wherein the input key is a hard key or a soft key.

9. The electronic instrument of claim 1, wherein the input key comprises a user interface control element.

10. The electronic instrument of claim 1, wherein the display is a touch display, and wherein the input key is displayed in the touch display.

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. The electronic instrument of claim 1, wherein the electronic instrument is any one of the following devices: an audio analyzer, an oscilloscope, a network analyzer, a power meter and/or volt meter, a receiver, a meter and/or counter, a signal and/or spectrum analyzer, a test and/or measurement device for broadcasting, a signal generator, a spectrum monitoring device, a wireless communications tester.

14. A method for controlling a user interface, comprising: pressing an input key; registering a starting time and a duration of the key press on the input key; assigning a first function to the input key if the duration of the key press is shorter or equal to a threshold time value; assigning a second function to the input key if the duration of the key press exceeds the threshold time value; and displaying a graphical element, which indicates a duration of the key press at least until the threshold time value is reached, wherein the first function of the input key comprises activating a first mode of an electronic instrument, and wherein the second function of the input key comprises activating a second mode of the electronic instrument, wherein the first mode is a channel preset mode of the electronic instrument; and wherein, in the channel preset mode, a currently selected channel of the electronic instrument is preset to a default configuration.

15. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] The invention will be explained in the followings together with the figures.

[0054] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a user interface control device according to an embodiment;

[0055] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of an electronic instrument according to an embodiment;

[0056] FIG. 3a-c show schematic diagrams of three display screens according to further embodiments; and

[0057] FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a method for controlling a user interface according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0058] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a user interface control device 200 according to an embodiment.

[0059] The user interface control device 200, comprising: a display 203; an input key 205 that can be pressed by a user, and a processor 207 configured to register a starting time and a duration of a key press on the input key 205. The processor 207 is configured to assign a first function to the input key if the duration of the key press is shorter or equal to a threshold time value, and to assign a second function to the input key if the duration of the key press exceeds the threshold time value. Thereby, the display 203 is configured to display a graphical element, which indicates a duration of the key press at least until the threshold time value is reached.

[0060] The user interface control device 200 can be a component of an electronic instrument, for example a measurement device or a signal generator. The user interface control device 200 can be configured to provide a user interface for controlling the instrument or can be connected to a user interface of the electronic instrument. For example, the first function of the input key corresponds to activating a first mode of the electronic instrument and the second function of the input key corresponds to activating a second mode of the electronic instrument.

[0061] The input key 205 can be a physical key, for example a push-button or a switch. The input key can be a hard key or a soft key.

[0062] The display 203 can be a touch display. The input key 205 can be a user interface control element that is displayed in the touch display.

[0063] The processor 207 can be a microprocessor. For example, the processor 207 is configured to initiate a timer after registering the starting time of the key press, wherein the timer registers the duration until the key 205 is released.

[0064] The user interface control device 200 can be configurable. For example, the threshold time value, and/or the first and second functions themselves can be configured. Preferably, the user interface control device 200 comprises a dedicated interface (not shown in FIG. 1) for receiving such configuration input.

[0065] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of an electronic instrument 100 comprising the user interface control device 200 according to an embodiment.

[0066] Preferably, the first function of the input key 205 comprises activating a first mode of the electronic instrument 100 and the second function of the input key 205 comprises activating a second mode of the electronic instrument 100.

[0067] The electronic instrument 100 can be a measurement device that comprises at least one measurement port 101 configured to receive a measurement signal to be analyzed by the electronic instrument. The electronic instrument 100 can be configured to analyze the measurement signal based on a first or second mode of the instrument activated via the input key.

[0068] For example, the electronic instrument 100 shown in FIG. 2 is a spectrum analyzer. The spectrum analyzer 100 can be configured to analyze various properties of the measurement signal, such as a spectrum, in particular spectral components, a power, a bandwidth and/or harmonics of the signal. For example, the measurement signal is an electrical signal and/or an RF signal.

[0069] The spectrum analyzer 100 can comprise one or several measurement channels. For example, each measurement port 101 of the spectrum analyzer can be associated with a measurement channel of the spectrum analyzer. A different source for a measurement signal to be analyzed by the measurement device 100 can be connected to each measurement port 101.

[0070] The first mode can be a channel preset mode of the spectrum analyzer 100, and/or the second mode can be a device preset mode of the spectrum analyzer 100. For example, in the channel preset mode, a currently selected measurement channel of spectrum analyzer 100 is preset to a default configuration, e.g. default measurement parameters or a default resolution. In the device preset mode, all channels of the spectrum analyzer 100 can be preset to a default configuration.

[0071] Alternatively, the electronic instrument 100 can be a signal generator that is configured to generate a signal, e.g. an electronic signal, based on the set mode.

[0072] FIG. 3a-c show schematic diagrams of three display screens 301a-c according to a further embodiment. The display screens 301a-c in FIGS. 3a-c are, for instance, displayed in the display 203 of the user interface control device 200 and/or the electronic instrument 100 during or after a key press on the respective input key 205.

[0073] FIG. 3a shows a display screens 301a during the key press before the threshold time value is reached. The display screen 301a shows a graphical element 303 in the form of a progress bar which indicates how long the input key 205 has been pressed and when the threshold time value will be reached. Alternatively, to the progress bar, the graphical element 303 can be a countdown or a timer display. In this way, the user knows for how long he has to press the input key 205 to assign different functions to the key 205.

[0074] The processor 207 can be configured to control the display 203 to display the graphical element 303, as soon as the processor 207 registers that the input key 205, 205 was pressed.

[0075] For example, the threshold time value is 3, 5, or 10 seconds.

[0076] Preferably, the display screen 301 also indicates, for instance via a textual representation, which mode of an electronic instrument 100 will be activated if the input key 205 is released prior to reaching the threshold time value, and which mode of the instrument 100 will be activated if the input key 205 is released after reaching the threshold time value. In this way, the user knows at any time which mode will be activated if he releases the key.

[0077] FIG. 3b shows a display screen 301b after releasing the input key 205 prior to reaching the threshold time value, and FIG. 3c shows a display screen 301c after releasing the input key 205 after reaching the threshold time value.

[0078] In both cases, the display 203 indicates which mode of the electronic instrument 100 is selected, for instance a device preset mode or a channel preset mode.

[0079] FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a method 400 for controlling a user interface according to an embodiment. For example, the method 400 can be used to control a user interface control device, such as the device 100 shown in FIG. 1.

[0080] The method 400 comprises the following steps: [0081] pressing 401 the input key 205; [0082] registering 403 the starting time and the duration of the key press on the input key 205; [0083] assigning 405 a first function to the input key 205 if the duration of the key press is shorter or equal to a threshold time value; [0084] assigning 407 a second function to the input key 205 if the duration of the key press exceeds the threshold time value; and [0085] displaying 409 a graphical element 303, which indicates a duration of the key press at least until the threshold time value is reached.

[0086] The user interface can be that of an electronic instrument, for example the electronic instrument 100 shown in FIG. 2. The first function of the input key can comprise activating a first mode of the electronic instrument 100, and the second function of the input key can comprise activating a second mode of the electronic instrument 100. In particular, the method 400 can be a method for controlling the electronic instrument 100.

[0087] Preferably, the method 400 further comprises the steps: [0088] analyzing and/or generating a signal, preferably with the electronic instrument 100, based on the activated first or second mode.

[0089] If the electronic instrument 100 is a measurement device, the method can further comprise the step: [0090] receiving the measurement signal to be analyzed by the electronic instrument 100.

[0091] All features of all embodiments described, shown and/or claimed herein can be combined with each other.